Assistive Technology On-Line Modules

Organization Name:
TASC a Program of UCP of Huntsville and Tennesee Valley
City & State:
Describe your creative piece – what is it and what has it been used for, and why is it innovative?
T.A.S.C. helps individuals with disabilities to accomplish tasks that individuals without disabilities may take for granted, like using a computer, reading a book, completing homework, or playing with a toy. T.A.S.C. uses assistive technology to bridge this ability gap for those living with a spinal cord injury, cerebral palsy, Lou Gehrig’s disease and a host of additional diagnoses. T.A.S.C. experts work one-on-one with clients to enhance and improve their quality of life through the meaningful understanding and use of technology, including maximizing the multiple utilities of a single tool. T.A.S.C. is designing free online training modules to make this process more manageable and less overwhelming for individuals with disabilities, their caregivers and the professionals who serve them at work, school, and in the community.
What issue or problem were you working to address with this piece?
A 2009 survey identified lack of basic computer skills as the greatest barrier preventing individuals with disabilities from actively participating in their community or workplace. The overwhelming majority said they wanted to learn these skills to safely participate in social online communities, shop, and be active in a world where disabilities go unnoticed. It has been increasingly difficult for T.A.S.C.’s staff of four to fulfill training obligations statewide as the only recognized assistive technology training center in Alabama. In order to reach as many individuals with disabilities, their caregivers and professionals as possible in a convenient and timely manner, T.A.S.C. teamed with public libraries, independent living centers, school systems and community centers to promote and support existing services. This collaborative solution provides computer training to individuals and assistive technology training to professionals that is easily accessible, readily available and free.
How has your submission successfully impacted your organization’s ability to solve this issue/problem?
Although the program is in its infancy, 57 centers across Alabama are already participating and an estimated 250 individuals with disabilities have used T.A.S.C. training modules to learn these basic computer skills. T.A.S.C. designed Project ACT (www.accessiblecomputertraining.org) for individuals with disabilities to learn about basic computer skills and designed Star Training (www.startraining.org) for teachers, paraprofessionals, parents and other service providers to learn about assistive technology. Each module is based on existing T.A.S.C. trainings that have been conducted or requested by professionals to better serve their clients. This cost-effective program has allowed T.A.S.C. to maximize its training impact to underserved populations statewide.